Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1887-05-06
Capture of the Maple Leaf.

On June 13, 1863, myself and twenty
six Confederate officers, having been cooped
up in a room twelve by eighteen feet, with
but one window, in Norfolk, were surprised
and much gratified at the order to prepare
for removal to Fort Delaware, and at once
were taken out into fresh, glorious air, and
placed upon the magnificent United States
steamer Maple Leaf, which was passing
OF her way from New Orleans to Fort Del
aware. On board of her were about seven
ty-fve Confederate prisoners of wal from
New Orleans, guarded by about fifty United
States soldiers. Among the prisoners was
the captain of the Confederate vessel
sStar of the West" which had been recent |
ly captured at New Orleans.
When we went aboard we were cordially
received by the Confederates, anda at once we
passed out of the bay, then steaming by
Eoruess Monroe we were soon out at sea,
or out of the mouth of the Chesapeake.
Everything was still and the evening shades
the great bell, the Confederates' agreed
signal to seize the ship, every man from his
station bounced down upon his man, armed
and unarmed, and a desperate struggle for
supremacy ensued; each man to his man,
arm to arm, and freedom or death was the
word. The first to yield was the guard,
and next and next, each one yielding
Strengthening the attacking party, for it
gave them guns, sabers and pistols. The
commanding officer was asleep in his cabin.
Two Confederate officers broke in the door
and commanded him to surrender. WAX
ing from his sleep, he drew his sword to
defend himself.
The C~onfederates quietly told him that
thesboat was ours, and that resistance was
useless, and he gave up his sword.
Within five minutes from the tap of the
bell the officers, guard and crew Of the
Maple Leaf were covering under the n
and pistols of the Confederates. Not a
lick was given, not o shot was fired; but,
as it seemed, in a twinkle the transaction
was completed. Gray uniforms took the
place of blue, and the vessel moved on as
if nothing had occurred. The course was
varied a little, a hurried council was held,
and the captain of the Star of the West
took command of the Maple Leaf. We
headed for the Virginia coast. with the de-
termination to empty and burn the vessel;
but before this was carried out milder
counsel prevailed.
oath Of parole, and also agreed that they
would proceed IN their way to Fort Della
ware, and not communicate the event of
the day at any intervening point, or until
they reached their destination, upon the
condition that the ~Confederates would pa
role them and save the vessel. They also
agreed to take care of the sick Confederates,
who could not make the journey of one
hundred or more miles through the country
to the Confederate lines.
The ~Confederates stood guard over the
Federal officers and soldiers until the last
Confederate was in the small boat and
near the shore, when at a signal the vessel
was surrendered to them, the C~onfederates
having aiken all the arms and plenty Of
ammunition. They gave a yell and q
salute, and were lost in the shade of the
woods.
Being sick, I remained aboard of the
Maple Leaf with about twenty others. The
Maple Leaf was then headed for Fort Del
aware, but darkness being on us, we knet
nothing of our course until we arrived back
at Fortress Monroe. at the very point our
friends were trying to prevent the Federal
officers from going, knowing that the Fed
eral cavalry would be put on them at once,
and possibly intercept them on their way,
and true it was, IS l afterward learned af-
ter a return from q ten. months imprison-
ment, that before - o'clock that night, one
thousand cavalry were put after them, but
did not intercept them, for the whole COM
pany, without the loss Of a man, after great
hardships, sore feet, hungry and tired sout,
reached the lines of the Confederate forces
on their third days journey.
Having never seen an account OF this
brilliant act in print, and never having met
. participant since the war, I thought that
I would, after the lapse of twenty three
years, give you this plain statement, and
ask where are those gallant fellows? And
who are left to tell this episode besides my
self? A. E. AsBURY.
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